answer back
phrasal verb
answered back; answering back; answers back
somewhat informal
: to reply to someone especially in a rude way
impolite children who answer back when their teacher corrects them
Examples of answer back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With the Cobras clinging to a 1-0 lead, High Tech High North County (13-14-1, 0-6 Frontier-Summit League) answered back in the second half.
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Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
There was a fun sequence where the teams exchanged blows behind the arc as Tanner Toolson made a 3, only for Oklahoma State’s Anthony Roy to answer back with a 3.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The Thunder answered back with a 119-98 triumph in OKC in January.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
However, the Aggies answered back, pushing their lead back to 22 and forcing a South Carolina timeout.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for answer back
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Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
There was a fun sequence where the teams exchanged blows behind the arc as Tanner Toolson made a 3, only for Oklahoma State’s Anthony Roy to answer back with a 3.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The Thunder answered back with a 119-98 triumph in OKC in January.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
However, the Aggies answered back, pushing their lead back to 22 and forcing a South Carolina timeout.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for answer back
Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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